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State Sen. Hank Sanders (D – Selma) releases a letter that he faxed to Congressman Artur Davis.
An excerpt:
Congressman Davis, there are nearly 48 million persons in the richest country on earth who do not have health care insurance. Those without health care insurance become second class citizens in securing a basic necessity of life. Too many of us have been second class citizens for too long to continue to be second class citizens in our health.
I know the health care reform package is not perfect. As a State Senator, I also know that if I waited for perfect legislation I would never vote “yes.” We have to get as much as we can and then stand strong.
[...]
I realize that it may not be politic in some quarters to vote yes for this health care reform package. But it’s rarely politic to stand for those left out. When it is not politic in the usual sense, we must be courageous. And courage is always politic for those who care.
In a Tuscaloosa news conference Davis objects to the cost of the bill. Davis acknowledges that the bill opens up access to health care for more Americans, but adds that two of the three goals for the bill that were initially put on the table were not reached. He says that “containing the cost of private health insurance and making sure that underserved communities have better access to care, weren’t met.”
Doesn’t sound like he buys into the idea expressed by Sen. Tom Harkin (D – Iowa) that the legislation represents a good “starter home.”
For more, the Washington Post has an article online this afternoon on this topic that quotes Sherry Walker of Left in Alabama and Dr. Natalie Davis (who blogs here at the Parlor).
Being against THIS healthcare bill does not mean you are against healthcare reform in another form. Everything is not as black and white as Sen. Sanders would have one believe. There are other alternatives to this budget busting extravaganza.
Jim Folsom’s office is buzzing from worried democrats asking him to reconsider and run for Governor. John Rogers was on the radio yesterday talking about it. Any one else hearing this?
Sanders is probably telling it like he sees it on this, but if Artur would have voted FOR healthcare reform then Sanders would have found something else to beat him up on.
Friend in Birmingham who is wonderful lady, active in many civic affairs, and white, thought six months ago that Artur hung the moon. She has now lost all faith in him, says “he’s just another politician looking out only for himself.”
If he was not running for governor, how would he have voted? Don’t think it would have been no. So just another candidate, like Bobby Bright, with his finger in the air seeing which way the wind is blowing.
Bright told Dothan Eagle yesterday that while he voted against this bill, it had lot of good things in it. In other words, some of my friends are for it, some are against it and I’m for all of my friends.
You gotta love the conviction of guys like Davis and Bright.
By the way, the Tea Party folks are asking Bright to sign a pledge to vote for the repeal of Obamacare.
Of course if he really supprots the repeal he was also pledge to not vote for Nancy to be speaker again. A vote will only take place if the Speaker allows it – so Nancy must go.
The ball is really in Bright’s corner. The bottom line is the passing of bill has changed the debate to a place that exposes Bright and dooms him in November.
Wrong again, Hank! There are plenty of people who are young and have good jobs and choose not to have health insurance. What turns people into second class citizens is having their government trample their rights by fining them if they choose not to have health insurance.
What are you going to run for Bill Harris? Anything?
When I want to make a point I draft a letter, then formally sign it, and lastly fax it. Is there really any other way to perform official business?
I worked deep into the night drafting a letter to Davis scolding him about voting against healthcare back room deals.
[...] health care needs. Elder statesman (and powerful black politician) Sen. Hank Sanders wrote him an open letter to chide him for his vote. Salon ranked him as the most cowardly Congressional Democrat in the [...]
UAB, burning that 6:30 p.m. oil eh? I picked up on the reference and I’m still trying to get back up to my seat from laughing so hard.
[...] as a whole is extremely rocky and full of contentiousness. The personal exchanges with Reed, Sanders and Arrington are well documented. However, this certainly is a move that will hurt, not help him [...]
Hank Sanders is an ignorant, racist fool!!! Our state suffers because that fool holds an office. God gelp us until he us voted out!